Executive Dow Constantine holds a check from Council Chairman Bob Ferguson, who gave back his 3 percent raise this year ($3,721). County leaders are hopeful most workers will do the same. King County may be heading for a showdown with its labor unions. …

The City of Seattle will have to substantially increase the amount of money it pays into its employees’ retirement system to cover future obligations because its related investments took big hits during the economic meltdown, according to a report PDF presented to the City Council Friday. Click here for more. …

Aiming to help save the planet and save King County some money, Executive Dow Constantine on Wednesday announced an energy plan with a goal of reducing energy use in county buildings by 10 percent by 2012. …

Interest groups have already contributed $8.6 million to statewide initiatives this year that seek to do things like roll back taxes, impose an income tax on the wealthy and privatize liquor sales – and that’s before a single measure has even qualified for the November ballot. …